Steering-gear.



A. D. WILT, JR. STEERING GEAR.

APPLIOATIONYFILED NOV.25.1908.

Patented June 1, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

wnmssis. A

A. 1). WILT, JR.

STEERING GEAR.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV.25.1908.

923230;. I Patented Juneil, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2,

, I 7 i '1 "f 4m ATTORNEYS struction, capable of being manufactured at iABRAM D. WILT, JR, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

STEERING-GEAR.

This invention pertains to steering gears for selfimpelled vehicles, andrelates more particu arly to the general type of apparatus in which therotation of the hand'wheel rot-ates a worm or screw and so produces anaxial movement which actuates a roclvshaft through the instrmnem'aiit'yof an arm or arms mounted on the rock-shaft and embracing the axiallymovable member; the rock-shaft itself ,heingronneCted with the steeringWheels by suitahle means, so that rotary movement of the shaft in onedirection or theother will effect a corresponding movement of thesteering Wheels.

The chief object of the invention is to novide a steering gear of thehind referre to, which shall he simple and compact in con low cost, andwifhal thoroughly efiective and reliable in operation.

To this end the invention consists in the novel features ofconstruction, arrangements of parts and combinations of elementshereinafter described, and more particularly set forth in the appendedclaims.

Referring now to the annexed drawings, in

which the preferred embodiment is illustrated, Figure 1 is a sideelevation, with part of the outer casing broken away toshow internalparts. r Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2. Fig. 3 is a plan view of thebottom of the gear, with the lower portion of thecasing removed.

Fig. 4 188, sectionon the line 4 -4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 55 of Fig. 1. Fig. dis a centralvertical section at right angles to the plane of Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is-apartsectional view, showing springs employed in the device, for taking u,the vibration incident to the runningof t is vehicle. Fig. 8 is a sideview of the complete device on a reduced scale, showing also the handwheel by which the mechanism is actuated and the arm or crank throughwhich the motion of the rock shaftis imparted to the steering wheels ofthe vehicle.

The external casing, which incloses the norkingparts of the device toprotect the same fromdnjury and exclude dust and dirt,

Specification of Letters Patent.

the extension and Patented June 1, race.

' Application filed. November 25, 1908. Serial No. 6 2,369.

' is designated. by A, and is preferably made in two parts, separablealong the line a and pro viding between thorn. bearings B B, for therock-shaft in the upper part of the casing is an internally threadedsleeve or not i), in which works a worm or screw it; said sleeve or nutbeing preferably formed o casting Babbitt or other suitahie metal,around the worm, which is temporarily supported in proper position hyany suitahie means, not shown. In order to retain the nut securely inposition the casing is erevided with one or more internal lugs Q. are ofcourse embedded in the metal. of nut in the casting operation.

On the top of the casing is a co or cap F, having;- a neck or collar-fl.ing a hearing for a rotatable socket member G, provided with anextension 9 reaching int the worm it, the construction. oitie being suchas to cause the worm. to rot tc with the socket member and yet more axisally on the eXtension g. A siinple'and con venient method for thispurpose to make interior of the worm square in cross section, as shownin Fig. The purpose of the socket member G to rcceive the hand wheelshaft H, Fig. 8, which ma be fixed therein in an}; convenient andsuitable manner. It will ti'ierelfore he seen that rotation of the handwheel wi l rotate the worm and hence cause the latter to move" in or outof the stationary nut, accord ing to the direction in which the handwheel is turned. Axial displacement of the socket member is prevented bya flange g formed thereon, lying under the cap F and fitting a ralobetin an annular bearing plate f held firmly between the casing A and thecan just referred to. r h

The lower end of the worm is provided t uth a cylindrical stein e, andheld thereon by means oi'a threaded annulus or nut I is a square blockJ, having ahned trunniens y,

screw may project.

to the rock shaft (1, engaging the bearing blocks K, K.

To hold the nut or annulus I firmly in ad justed position it is providedwith a plurality of radial apertures, 'i, threaded to receive a lockingscrew i, while the stem 2 is provided with one or more slots, as e, intowhich said Thus in adjusting the annulus the same is screwed up as faras desired, and is then turned backward or for ward until one of thethreaded apertures is in register with a slot in the stem; whereupon thescrew 1'' (Fig. 1) is inserted therein, to lock the parts securelytogether.

The method just described affords very close adjustment of the parts.For example, with two slots in the stem e, diametrically opposite eachother. and an odd number of equidistant radial apertures i in theannulus I, say five, a movement of the annulus equal 'to one-tenth of arevolution will bring a threaded aperture 5 in register with one or theother ofthe slots in the stem; and if the stem is provided with saytwenty threads to the inch such a movement of the annulus -will producean axial motion of one twohundredth of an inch, thus providing anadjustment close enough for all practical purposes.

It will now be seen that as the worm is reciprocated by the .-hand wheelshaft the trunnion block in which the worm-stem e is s free to turn,will be nioved past the shaft C,

and, through the instrumentality of the bearing blocks K, K, and thejaws L, L, will rock the shaft. At the same tlme, turning or twisting ofthe trunnion block on the stem 6 is prevented b the jaws, which, it willbe remembered, c osely embrace the block; long and firm bearing betweenthe block and the jaws being afforded by reason of the fact that thebearing blocks are narrower than the trunnion block, so that the inneredges of the jaws overhan block, as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

the top and'bottom of the On the end of the rock-shaft which protrudesfrom the casing, an arm or crank M may be secured, for connection withthe usual links which operate the steering knuckles, 50

not shown.

In the modification illustrated in Fig. 7 the stem e is elongated, topermit the insertion of two coil springs, N, N, between the trunnionblock and the annulus I on one side, and the worm E on the other. Thesesprings permit suflicient play of the trunnion block up and down on thestem to absorb vibration and shocks transmitted from the steeringwheels, and yet can be stiff enough to prevent obstructions in theroadway fromturning the steering wheels. In other respects. theconstruction illustrated in Fig. 7 is identical with that shown in theother figures.

The advantages of the device are numerous and important Its generalarrangement, and principle of construction and operation, are such thatit may be made con}- pact and durable. The stresses. to which It may besubjected, and those incident to its operation, are well distributed,and efficient y resisted mention being made particularly of the method,previously described, for preventing twisting or turning of the trunnionblock. Lost motion between the trunnion block and the worm, due to wearor other causes, can be readily taken up by adjusting the nut orannulus 1. Ready access to the Working parts is afforded by removal ofthe lower part of the casing, after which the rockshaft may be liftedout of its bearings, the

jaws disengaged from the bearing blocks, and the latter slipped off ofthe trunnlons, While in use, the working parts are com- 'pletelyprotected by the casing, and the entrance of dirt, water, etc. revented.

As reviously stated, t e device speclfically escribed 'and illustratedherein is merely the preferred construction, and it will i be apparentto those skilled in the art that the same may be. varied as tothedetails of construction without departure from the proper scope andspirit of the invention .as defined b the appended claims.

What, claim is: I

1. In a steering gear, in combination, a rock'shaft havingoutsta'ndingjaws or arms,

a trunnion block embraced by said arms to inclosing casin havingtransversely arranged bearings, a roc lr shaft mounted in said bear-.

ings and provided with outstanding parallel arms or jaws, a trunnionblock embraced by the arms, the contiguous faces of the arms and theblock being in close parallelism to prevent rotation of the block, aworm rotatably connected with the trunnion block, an internally threadednut or sleeve for the worm or screw, carried in fixed relation theretoby the inclosingcasing, andmeans for rotating the worm or screw butpermitting axial movement thereof, as set forth.

3. In a steering gear, in combination, an inclosing casing havingtransversely arranged bearingssaid casing bein made in separablesections with the plane 0 se ration passing centrally through the saidearings aroc shaft mounted in the bearings and provided with outstandingarms, a Worm operatively connected with said arms to rock the shaft, aninternally threaded nut of sleeve for the worm, fixed in the inclosingcasing and weas l cerriodthcrehy, sndmesns for rotetin the.

of, as set forth;

worm but permitting exiel'movement t erev a stei'nextencling through hesome, nut threaded on the stem to hold the block thereon'and take upweer on the block and the'worm, and means for positwely i7 fastening thenut to the stem to prevent rotation of the nut after adjustment, as setforth. 5. In a'steeringge'er, in coinlmmimn, a rock shzift havingoutstanding parallel arms or jaws .thereomf a trunnion block havingtrunnions engaging-the arms, s worm hearmg on t he blocknnd having itcylindrical stem extending through the block and-havits end slotted, anut threaded on the stem to hold the'seme thereon and take up weeronlthe 'blockend the worm, said nut 'heingprovid edwith a series ofthreaded radially arranged n ertures, and it screw fitting any'of theseic apertures and adapted to enter the slot in the stem to positivelyhold the nut against rotation in adjusted position, as set forth.

6. In a steering gear, in combination, an

.inc osing casing, a nut fixed therein, a worm worming in. the nutsndhaving an axial bore of poiygonal cross} section, a rotatable me1nbe?having on. extension reaching into and conforming to the bore in theworm, whereby rotation of thesaid member will'rotete the worm and permitaxial movement thereof, a on for the casing having a bearing for thesold rotstnhlemember, and means for we venting axial movement of saidmember, as

set forth.

7. inasteering gear, in combination, a 7

block providedwith trunnions, a worm rotstecly connected withthe block,a fixed trunnion block and said stop, as set forth.

nutfor theworm, arocli's heft having outstanding jaws or arms rovidedwith'open- 4,5 ings slidably engaging the trnnnions on said block, saidopenin s heinlg1 narrower than the thickness of the b och w ereby theedges. of

the openings overlie the edges of the block to present long bearingsurfaces for preventing turning or twisting of the block, on inolosingcasing for the whole, having hearings forthe rock shaft, and menusextending into. the easing into engagement with the worm to, rotate thelatter but permit axial movement-" thereof relative to said me'ans, asset forth. 1 l

8 In a steering gear, in combinati0n ,,a worm or screwhaving an axiallyextending stem, a fixed nut in which said worm or screw works, atrunnion block sl-idable on said stem,

a rock-shaft provided with armsor jaws em- I bracing the trunnionblock,a spring between the-worm end-thetrunnion block, a stop on the end ofthe stem, and :1 spring between-the 9. In a steering gear of the kinddescribed, a stationary nut, a worm or screw therein provided withenaxially extending stem on one end and having an axial bore formed withan enlargement intermediate to its ends; said bore, between the siiid.enlargement and the end opposite the stem, beingpolygonal in crosssection to receive the correspondingly shaped end ofe member forconnecting the worm with the handwheel of the steer- 1 its nut;substantially as shown and described.

-In testimony whereof a 'flix my signature in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses. l

ABRAM D. .WILT, JR.

Witnesses R. DALE BENSON, Jr., VVILLIAM E. CoALn.

